Styes in children, what is your best treatment?
Suddenly your son has started to scratch more than one account eye? Do you have trouble opening your eyelid and your vision is something deficient? Perhaps the answer to all these problems is a stye or some other similar infection. Often the sebaceous glands of the smallest can present this type of condition that is often related to lack of hygiene.
When this absence of correct cleaning occurs in the area of the eyelids, the sebaceous glands produce a substance that ends up clogging the eyelid. The most common problems in this regard are stye, chalazion and blepharitis. They all are easy to solve with hygiene and in some cases with a specific ointment.
Although the most advisable thing is never to miss the appointment with the cleaning of the eyeball.
Orzuelos
Styes are infections in the sebaceous glands of the eyelids that is caused by a bacterium called staphylococcus. They appear from a somewhat reddened lump that causes pain in the child. They are usually located at the inner edge of the eye, depending on where the tip is oriented may be internal or external.
If the child begins to scratch his eyes too much and complain about this pain, it is best to go to the pediatrician to perform a clinical diagnosis. Styes are usually cured without treatment, although a warm compress may be applied to the area to help clear the obstruction of the gland. If it is a very serious case of infection, the use of antibiotics may be recommended.
Chalazion
It is a inflammation more durable of the sebaceous glands. The chalazion occurs at the inner edge of the eyelid and appears as a hard lump that barely causes pain. However, its chronic nature makes it necessary to produce a diagnosis that does not require many tests. It is enough for the pediatrician to touch and see the minor's eye for it.
Like the stye, it usually disappears by itself and its treatment is only recommended when it produces some vision problem. In this case, the child should be referred to the ophthalmologist to be the one who proposes a more effective solution to the chalazion so that it does not alter the child's life.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis produces inflammation in the eyelid margin that can turn red, with dry and sticky scales or scabs difficult to remove. It can produce itching and irritate the child's eyes. It usually affects both eyes, persistently or intermittently. The diagnosis is clinical and can manifest itself in several ways:
- Blepharitis caused by a bacterium called staphylococcus, with ulcers or wounds on the edge of the eyelid, with scabs and loss of eyelashes, conjunctivitis and sometimes even greater discomfort due to accompanying a keratitis.
- Blepharitis seborrheic, without the lesions of the previous one, but with attached scales, sometimes it is accompanied by seborrhea on the scalp. Sometimes there are mixed cases.
In both cases, the treatment forms consists of cleaning the edge of the eyelid with a swab of wet cotton to remove scales or crusts. Staphylococcal blepharitis is also treated with the application of an antibiotic on the edge of the eyelids.
Palpebral blepharitis is a variant produced by the presence of lice or nits on the edge of the eyelid and eyelashes. They are eliminated with a ointment of Vaseline ophthalmic, and removing the nits. The pediatrician should assess the possibility that it is a sexually transmitted disease.
Damián Montero
